Remedy Admits FBC: Firebreak 'Underperformed' — 'Commercially, We Were Unsatisfied'

Developer Remedy believes the merchandise of its archetypal self-published crippled and Control spin-off, FBC: Firebreak, "succeeded technically," but acknowledged it "underperformed" connected Steam, admitting that "commercially, we were unsatisfied."

In a connection to investors, the workplace reiterated Firebreak topped 1 cardinal players. However, the bulk of those players were connected console — via PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass subscription — adjacent though PC was "planned arsenic the superior user income channel."

"The game’s archetypal onboarding acquisition and ngo operation resulted successful precocious aboriginal subordinate drop-offs and an influx of antagonistic reviews," the fiscal connection said. "As players spent much clip successful the crippled and we released updates improving the game, sentiment successful reviews turned much positive.

"Commercially, we were unsatisfied with the launch-phase user income of FBC: Firebreak. Thus far, FBC: Firebreak’s commercialized show has mostly been driven by the Xbox and PlayStation subscription work agreements. A sizeable information of the revenues from these agreements volition inactive beryllium recognized passim the declaration period."

Remedy promised large changes past month. The pledge came aft Remedy posted a candid connection soon aft Firebreak's launch, acknowledging "not everything had gone well."

The workplace did, however, enactment that FBC: Firebreak was designed to evolves implicit time, and believes it's a coagulated crippled "despite the rocky launch." A larger "Major Update" scheduled for precocious September volition beryllium the adjacent cardinal measurement for FBC: Firebreak, which Remedy "expects to thrust involvement successful the title." It said it remains "committed to continuing to enactment connected FBC: Firebreak, engaging with the community, and expanding the game."

In its fiscal results for the archetypal fractional of 2025 and the 2nd quarter, Remedy reported a gross boost during some periods, pursuing increases successful crippled income and royalties. The 4th erstwhile again operated astatine a nonaccomplishment — though astatine $580,000, this was not arsenic crisp arsenic past year's $3.7 cardinal nonaccomplishment — and crossed the archetypal six months of the year, gross was up 43.4% to $35.1 million.

As for different games? The workplace confirmed Control 2's improvement is "on track" and gathering milestones arsenic the absorption is present connected "gameplay, environments, and missions." The Max Payne 1 & 2 remake task remains successful afloat accumulation arsenic "collaboration with Rockstar Games remains adjacent and productive."

"FBC: Firebreak is simply a compelling co-op shooter that, contempt its bully looks, doesn’t person the extent to support things absorbing long-term," we wrote successful IGN's FBC: Firebreak review, awarding it 6/10.

Vikki Blake is simply a newsman for IGN, arsenic good arsenic a critic, columnist, and advisor with 15+ years acquisition moving with immoderate of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.